Pages

Sunday, 17 March 2013

Melanie Porter & Zoe Darlington's Pop-up Shop in Seven Dials

Melanie Porter and Zoe Darlington have opened a joint pop-up shop in Monmouth Street to showcase their uniquely British designs in furniture and lamps.

"Trained at the prestigious Central Saint Martin’s College, Melanie Porter’s ability to create exquisite, textured fabrics which are individually knitted and felted for every project has drawn attention from clients and press all over the world.Each project starts with the frame itself – anything from a Victorian nursing chair, to a vintage occasional table– which is painstakingly stripped back, before being restored and/or reupholstered using traditional techniques. This blank canvas is then covered with a series of hand-knitted panels.Melanie undertakes the entire process herself and everything, from the restoration and upholstering to the individual, crocheted buttons, is done by hand. The result of this incredibly labour-intensive process is a stunning and unique work of art, destined to be a future family heirloom.Zoë Darlington makes strikingly beautiful lamps with the utmost respect for method and materials. Inspired by old heirlooms and updated with a bold British wit, each lamp is designed to last a lifetime.Every lamp is handmade in Britain using techniques that have remained unchanged for centuries. Bases are hand-turned from the finest timbers by traditional English artisans. The shades are designed and made personally by Zoë: Sculptural frames are locally welded, patterns are expertly chalked and hand-cut, fabrics and trims are meticulously hand-stitched to frames.The combination of traditional form and practice, and unexpected colour and pattern, creates something utterly contemporary, quintessentially British and above all, beautiful."